Origins and Development of the Professions - Professor Sir Roderick Floud FBA

TL;DR

The speaker discusses the historical development of professions and the current crisis of trust towards professionals.

Transcript

well good afternoon ladies and gentlemen um I'm rodri flad I'm the provest of Gresham college and uh it's my great pleasure to welcome you and the speakers this afternoon to this seminar on what makes a good professional um for those of you who haven't been to gram before or don't know anything about us let me just say a few words we've been provid... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥶 Gresham College provides free public lectures and has a global audience of around 1.5 million downloads per year.
• ⌛ Professions have evolved over time, with different countries granting different statuses to professions.
• 👊 Trust in professionals has declined, partly due to attacks on their expertise and a prevailing model of behavior based on self-interest.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the historical development of professions?

The late 19th century saw the emergence of a wider range of professions, many of which were based on expertise validated by peers. Initially, professions were learned through apprenticeship models before universities and other bodies became involved in awarding qualifications.

Q: How did professions gain power and control?

Professions enjoyed some degree of monopolistic power, setting fees and requiring registration to practice. They countered accusations of being monopolies by emphasizing their duty to act on behalf of clients, rather than for personal gain.

Q: Why is there a crisis of trust towards professionals?

The breakdown in trust began in the 1980s and can be attributed to attacks on professions and expertise. The prevailing model of human behavior, based on self-interest, undermined the concept of professionals acting in the public good. Better-educated individuals also have more means to question professional advice through the internet.

Q: How can professionals regain trust?

Professionals need to demonstrate public responsibility and ethical behavior. Professional bodies should focus on the service their professions provide and resist acting solely as trade unions. Individuals also have a responsibility to act ethically and abide by the spirit of the law.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Gresham College has been providing free public lectures since 1597, and their seminars now reach a global audience of around 1.5 million downloads per year.

• The growth and development of professions have evolved over time, with different countries granting different statuses to the professions.

• Professions have faced a crisis of trust in recent years, with professionals no longer being trusted and their activities increasingly regulated by external bodies.